Since I was 18, I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand for its picturesque landscapes and tranquil surroundings. Being an introvert, I love the fact that the country has more sheep than people; being a photographer, I relish the chance to capture the beautiful sights. Over the years, every time an opportunity comes along, it ends up being scuppered.

With the vastness of New Zealand, one needs to drive to fully explore and appreciate the wonders of the country. But for someone like me who doesn’t drive, it’s close to impossible to go on my own. Hence, despite countless of solo jaunts overseas in the past couple of years, I haven’t set foot in this top destination on my bucket list.

However, this changed this month. After 16 years, I finally got to visit the island country with my partner who I’m thankful for for helping me realise this dream. The trip was a pivotal and life-changing one in many aspects as it marked the start to a life together and puts in place the momentum for many events coming up for the rest of the year.